Seabrook city secretary honored at retirement party

Seabrook Mayor Glenn Royal, right, former Mayor Bob Robinson, left, and Perry Christy wish Michele Glaser a happy bon voyage into retirement at the party in her honor. Christy’s ancestors had the original Ritson- Morris Spanish land grant when they settled in what is now Seabrook many decades ago.

By Mary Alys Cherry

Michele Glaser, who began working for the City of Seabrook in April 1983, retired Thursday, July 2 after 32 years of public service, and she’s already enjoying her retirement.

After a week or two of rest, she is up and at ‘em each day, going to exercise classes, playing cards, and enjoying other senior activities at the senior center in the Bay Area Community Center in Clear Lake Park.

And, yes, she misses her work, but she’ll get over it.

Seabrook hosted a retirement party for Glaser at the Seabrook Community House where dozens for former city council members, mayors, city staff and the public stopped by to wish her well and show appreciation to Glaser, who has had such a positive impact on the Seabrook community.

Spn Eric and daughter Ingrid join their mother, Seabrook City Secretary Michele Glaser, at her retirement party in the Seabrook Community House.

Joining Mayor Glenn Royal in honoring her with a proclamation, key to the city and other memorabilia, were City Manager Gayle Cook and Webster City Secretary Pauline Small as former Mayors Jack Fryday and Bob Robinson and a number of current and former city council members looked on. Former Nassau Bay City Secretary Pat Jones also was in the crowd.

Glaser was appointed to the position of city secretary in April 1998. Prior to serving as city secretary, she began working for the City of Seabrook in 1983 as an assistant to the city manager and city secretary. In addition, she also served as an administrative assistant in the Building Department. Glaser then served as the city secretary for the City of Shoreacres from October 1995 to April 1998, before accepting the position of city secretary in Seabrook.

She is a native of Youngstown, Ohio and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. She moved to Texas in 1982 and became a resident of Seabrook in 1983. Seabrook has been her home ever since.

In 2000, she became a Texas Registered Municipal Clerk and has since completed her third recertification. She served as the president of the Salt Grass Chapter of Municipal Clerks in 2006 and 2007. During her tenure as city secretary, Glaser has had the privilege of serving 6 mayors and 34 council members, city officials said.

Many council members who have worked with City Secretary Michele Glaser over the past 36 years stopped by her retirement party to wish her well. Among those pictured with her are, from left, Skip Boteler, Don Holbrook, Herman Burton, Jerry Larson, Pete Braccio, Buddy Hammond and Tom Diegelman.

“It has been very evident to me, and those who have worked with Michele, that she truly cares deeply for the Seabrook community,” said Mayor Glenn Royal. “I personally know, that we are all better off having had Michele as our city secretary. She will be missed and we all wish her the very best as this next chapter in her life unfolds. Thank you Michele for all that you have done; you do it so very well.”

After 32 years of public service, Glaser plans to travel and spend more time with her children and grandchildren. Her daughter, Ingrid, is getting married this fall in Dripping Springs, so wedding planning is keeping her plenty busy.

“I have been fortunate, not only to work for the city, but also to have lived in Seabrook since 1983,” said Michele. “I have served under many wonderful mayors, city councils and city managers. The citizens of Seabrook and the city staff are the best I have ever worked with and I will miss my daily interaction with everyone.”